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Rissmiller was born in Boston and grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts. He is the fourth of eight children of David and Patricia Rissmiller. He attended Belmont High School (where he was cut from the varsity hockey team), but transferred to Williston Northampton School. He completed a post-graduate year at The Hill School before attending Holy Cross.

Rissmiller played at the College of the Holy Cross of the NCAA. He is considered to be one of the best male hockey player to ever come from that college. Rissmiller's best season was when he scored 16 goals and added 30 assists in 2001–2002. He was noted for his physical domination and strong two-way play for Holy Cross. In total, he scored 53 goals and 90 assists in 131 games for the college. Undrafted, he signed his first pro contract with the San Jose Sharks.

In 2002–03, he had 14 goals and 26 assists in 72 games for the Cleveland Barons of the AHL. In the midst of the 2003–04 season, Rissmiller was called up to San Jose, where he registered no points in four games. That year, however, he had 14 goals and 31 assists in 75 games in the AHL. Continuing to gain experience, Rissmiller played the year of the NHL lockout in Cleveland and potted 21 goals and 23 assists in 69 games playing on the top line. In the 2005–06 season, Rissmiller put up 15 goals and 32 assists in 68 games, before injuries to the Sharks gave Rissmiller a chance to play in the NHL. In the 2006–07 season, Rissmiller totaled 22 points for the Sharks including 7 goals and 15 assists. On April 27, 2006 Rissmiller scored his first career playoff goal off a deflection from a shot taken by fellow rookie Matt Carle.

He signed a two-year-contract worth $990,000 in August 2006. Rissmiller suffered a shoulder separation and a broken foot in the 2006 playoffs. However, he played (and scored one goal) until San Jose was eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers. In the 2007–08 season, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Rissmiller scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime against the Nashville Predators.

On July 1, 2008, he signed as a free agent to a 3 year, $3 million contract with the New York Rangers.[1] Rissmiller started the 2008–09 season with the Rangers and was injured in his Rangers debut, a 4-3 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 11, 2008.[2] Failing to secure a place upon his recovery, Rissmiller played in only 2 games with New York before he was assigned on a conditioning assignment to AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack on November 12, 2008. After completing his assignment and without a role on the Rangers, he was then returned to the Wolf Pack for the duration of the season on December 2, 2008.[3] In 64 games with Hartford, he finished third in team scoring with assists, and 54 points.

In the following 2009–10 season, Rissmiller remained in the AHL with the Wolf Pack. He recorded two assists in 6 games before he was re-assigned by the Rangers to fellow AHL team, the Grand Rapids Griffins. In 63 appearances for the Griffins, Rissmiller finished second on the team in scoring with 45 points.[4]

On August 2, 2010, Rissmiller's disappointing tenure with the Rangers concluded when he was traded, along with Donald Brashear, to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for center Todd White.[5] Failing to make the Thrasher's roster prior to the 2010–11 season, Rissmiller was again demoted to the AHL to affiliate, the Chicago Wolves for the last year of his contract. Due to the Wolves exceeding number of veteran players, Rissmiller was limited to 6 games with the Wolves before on November 20, 2010, Rissmiller was reassigned by the Thrashers to the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL, marking a return to Cleveland from his previous four-year tenure with the Barons.[6] On December 3, 2010, Rissmiller set a franchise record for the Monsters for most goals in a game with 4.[7]

After scoring 30 points in 42 games for the Monsters, Rissmiller was recalled and made a lone appearance for the Atlanta Thrashers in a 4-1 defeat to the Buffalo Sabres on February 23, 2011.[8] He was then briefly returned to the Monsters before he was traded on February 28, 2011 to the Florida Panthers, along with Niclas Bergfors, in exchange for Radek Dvorak and a fifth-round draft pick.[9]

On July 12, 2011, Rissmiller signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche, the NHL affiliate of Lake Erie.[10]